Looks like North Korea wasn’t bluffing about cutting off one of their only channels to hard currency and global trade. This morning, a high-ranking official of the DPRK announced that all 51,000 workers at the Kaesong industrial complex would leave, shutting down the last link of cooperation between North and South:

North Korea said Monday it will recall 51,000 North Korean workers and suspend operations at a factory complex it has jointly run with South Korea, moving closer to severing its last economic link with its rival as tensions escalate.

The statement from Kim Yang Gon, secretary of a key decision-making body, the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, did not say what would happen to the 475 South Korean managers still at the Kaesong industrial complex. …

“The zone is now in the grip of a serious crisis,” Kim said, according to state media. He said it “has been reduced to a theater of confrontation with fellow countrymen and military provocation, quite contrary to its original nature and mission.”

“It is a tragedy that the industrial zone which should serve purposes of national reconciliation, unity, peace and reunification has been reduced to a theater of confrontation between compatriots and war against the North,” Kim said in remarks carried by the Korean Central News Agency.

South Korea’s finance minister, Hyun Oh-seok, said Monday that it is “quite ridiculous” for North Korea to be closing the border at Kaesong. “North Korea has nothing to gain from this kind of things,” he said at a news briefing.

That’s why this may be a canary-in-the-coal-mine moment. Pyongyang’s other forms of sabre-rattling usually meant that the DPRK had grown desperate for hard currency, fuel, and food aid. Except for one brief three-day period in 2009, the regime has left Kaesong out of the propaganda fight and kept its access to legitimate hard currency open. Now, except for trade with China, clandestine arms sales, and counterfeiting operations, the DPRK has left itself with no options except Western aid or total military victory. That position cannot be rational unless Pyongyang really wants a war, or thinks it can win a nuclear-war bluff.

Though it remains a highly unlikely scenario, Japanese officials have long feared that if North Korea ever decides to play its nuclear card it has not only the means but several potential motives for launching an attack on Tokyo or major U.S. military installations on Japan’s main island. And while a conventional missile attack is far more likely, Tokyo is taking North Korea’s nuclear rhetoric seriously.

On Monday, amid reports North Korea is preparing a missile launch or another nuclear test, Japanese officials said they have stepped up measures to ensure the nation’s safety. Japanese media reported over the weekend that the defense minister has put destroyers with missile interception systems on alert to shoot down any missile or missile debris that appears to be headed for Japanese territory. …

North Korea, meanwhile, issued a new threat against Japan.

“We once again warn Japan against blindly toeing the U.S. policy,” said an editorial Monday in the Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of its ruling party. “It will have to pay a dear price for its imprudent behavior.”

Even this might be a strategy to keep Japan out of a war with South Korea, and perhaps deny the US access to our assets in case war breaks out on the peninsula:

Also, a threat against Japan could be used to drive a wedge between Tokyo and Washington. Pyongyang could, for example, fire one or more Rodong missiles toward Tokyo but have them fall short to frighten Japan’s leaders into making concessions, stay out of a conflict on the peninsula or oppose moves by the U.S. forces in Japan to assist the South Koreans, lest Tokyo suffer a real attack.

“Given North Korea’s past adventurism, this scenario is within the range of its rational choices,” Michishita wrote.

This brings us back to China, whose military recently shifted to the Korean border. CNN points out that while the DPRK and the PRC have been BFFs for decades, China’s economic engagement with the world — especially the US, Japan, and South Korea — may have them rethinking their support for the Kim dynasty. The new top man in Beijing just said publicly that no country should be allowed to throw a region and even the whole world into chaos for selfish gain, a remark that lacks any of the usual niceties of Asian subtlety. That has the US detecting a shift in China’s attitude toward the DPRK that we’d like to exploit, and should have Pyongyang hitting reverse:

At some point, China will be forced to ask itself this question: Does it prefer having a loose cannon in Pyongyang who might provoke a war on purpose or by accident, thus guaranteeing US and Japanese interference on its doorstep for the next several decades, or a reunification that rids itself of Mao’s loose ends and gets the US and Japan off its back porch for good? They may never have asked themselves that question but for Lil’ Kim’s provocations, but now they have no way to avoid the decision.

Looks like he’s following Obama’s playbook, cause as much unemployment and pain for the little people to get his way. With Obama it was the sequestor (need money to give to poor starving people)and with Kim it’s the same thing.

“Hey Kim. This is you Comrade in the revolution Barack. I know you are new and need to show the world you are tough, I also could use a minor conflict to shore up my Commander in Chief cred. Need to start thinking “legacy” you know! So I have a plan. You start a bunch of threats and rabble rousing, which will culminate in you sinking a South Korean ship or firing a few shells on to one of our bases. Then I’ll fire some cruises missiles at one of your abandoned bases...oh you’ll make sure some political dissidents are at those bases, great killing two birds with one stone, I like it! Lol! Wish I could do that with the conservatives in this country! Then we will both go on TV with our respective compliant state run medias and take credit for a grand victory. It’s a win-win!”

This action, more so than any of the rhetoric from ‘lil Kim, is troubling. I’ve long thought that when the move is made to shut down this industrial region, it will be the true sign on imminent action. This is not going to end well.

Contrary to what a lot of people choose to make light of and joke about, DPRK can cause substantial problems in the region. The conventional armaments and biological / chemical munitions possessed by DPRK is on a scale that is not something to make light of.

7
posted on 04/08/2013 8:11:39 AM PDT
by RobertClark
(My shrink just killed himself - he blamed me in his note!)

Hey Kim. This is you Comrade in the revolution Barack. I know you are new and need to show the world you are tough, I also could use a minor conflict to shore up my Commander in Chief cred. Need to start thinking legacy you know! So I have a plan. You start a bunch of threats and rabble rousing, which will culminate in you sinking a South Korean ship or firing a few shells on to one of our bases. Then Ill fire some cruises missiles at one of your abandoned bases...oh youll make sure some political dissidents are at those bases, great killing two birds with one stone, I like it! Lol! Wish I could do that with the conservatives in this country! Then we will both go on TV with our respective compliant state run medias and take credit for a grand victory. Its a win-win!

***************

Don’t forget about diverting our attention from the economy, Benghazi, gun control etc. Rodman, the go-between did what he was told to do. Who would suspect a moron envoy passing info from obama to Lil Kim.

Then Ill fire some cruises missiles at one of your abandoned bases...oh youll make sure some political dissidents are at those bases, great killing two birds with one stone, I like it!

And please do me this favor, my Comrade... make sure they're dressed in military uniforms, so I can gain the credit I need to be seen as the Great Leader (oops.. strike that, your esteemed and beloved grandfather owns that one).. Glorious Leader that I believe I am.

Since skerry is running around in Asia; payolla is still being rounded up. skerry has to ask china for another loan. Expect skerry to go to one of missile sites in NK to make the payoff from America, with more borrowed chinese money, and toast lil’ kim just like maddie-not-so-bright did with lil’ kim’s father. Of course china could say no, then the call will go out to ben at the fed to print more money. And someone said there was not a plan.

11
posted on 04/08/2013 8:21:54 AM PDT
by no-to-illegals
(Scrutinize our government and Secure the Blessing of Freedom and Justice)

Ive long thought that when the move is made to shut down this industrial region, it will be the true sign on imminent action. This is not going to end well.

And since they're still trading with their neighbors Communist China, this should get real interesting...

One thing I do know, is this government knows attempting to draft hundreds of thousands of Americans to run off to protect Japan, South Korea and or Taiwan in some ground war in Asia, ain't going to happen.

13
posted on 04/08/2013 8:36:59 AM PDT
by dragnet2
(Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)

Your probably right, but what if NK launchs something that doesn’t go very far and the ChiComs or other evil outfit DOES launch something a few seconds later that DOES make it to some large population area and kills bigtime.

Our media may very well say it was launched from NK regardless of the source or the truth. Only those in the military will know the truth most likely.

They are trading with PRC, yes, but there is a growing rift in that relationship. The new leadership in China is frustrated by the petulant behavior of Kim. China is massing troops at its border with DPRK, not to support them, but rather to stem the flow of refugees and to seal the border when hostilities commence. PRC cannot and will not deal with the mass influx of peasants fleeing DPRK - contrary to wide belief, they have enough internal problems to deal with.

What strikes me as odd, however, is the current timing. I would not put it past China to test the waters with the U.S. and the incompetence of our current leaders (Hagel, Obama, Kerry, et al) - China has the most to gain here by expanding their ring of influence and getting rid of Mao’s unresolved issue.

20
posted on 04/08/2013 9:11:57 AM PDT
by RobertClark
(My shrink just killed himself - he blamed me in his note!)

A Bing search will turn up thousands of reports from world media. If utilizing the search terms "chinese military massing on Korean border". It creates a situation where you kind of need to choose your interpretation and base that from what source you choose to believe.

22
posted on 04/08/2013 9:40:51 AM PDT
by RobertClark
(My shrink just killed himself - he blamed me in his note!)

I would not put it past China to test the waters with the U.S. and the incompetence of our current leaders

Current leaders?

They became pretty damn bold under Bush as well.

Top Chinese general in 2005 threatened to use nuclear weapons against U.S. cities

BEIJING, Friday, July 15 - China should use nuclear weapons against the United States if the American military intervenes in any conflict over Taiwan, a senior Chinese military official said Thursday.

_________________________________________________________

China cannot be trusted regardless of who the current ruling class is in the U.S. We can trade with them sure....But if push comes to shove and things don't happen to go exactly they way they want they could get ugly.

I do not trust Communist China. Compound this with their massive military build up over the past 20 years and I trust them even less, if that's possible.

23
posted on 04/08/2013 10:01:14 AM PDT
by dragnet2
(Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)

""China's navy also conducted live-firing naval drills by warships in the Yellow Sea that were set to end Monday near the Korean peninsula, in apparent support of North Korea, which was angered by ongoing U.S.-South Korean military drills""

24
posted on 04/08/2013 10:04:55 AM PDT
by dragnet2
(Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)

Ya have to understand, there are a few super wealthy and a few middlemen in this country making a few bucks off Communist Chinese products...As the poor stupid Americans gawk and comment how nearly everything they purchase is no longer made in the U.S....Shazaamm!

Bottom line is there are people here who could care less about anything but their own profits. There have always been people like this, that would dance with the devil and sell their own mothers for a profit.

Profits regardless of consequences.

25
posted on 04/08/2013 10:11:28 AM PDT
by dragnet2
(Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)

Corrupt government officials at all levels have been known to receive kick backs from those making the big profits, in this case those who've decided to move their manufacturing to countries like Communist China of all places for those 1930s labor wages.

It goes something like this Holly:

""Listen Mr. Chintoofat, my buddies are going to pass laws outlawing the use of incandescent light bulbs in the U.S. and I know a manufacturer who can design the new government authorized light bulbs. He can develop the process and machines that make them. I will put you in touch with him and I'll make sure he's fast tracked to move his company to your country and your part of the deal is you supply that dirt cheap peasant labor.

40
posted on 04/08/2013 1:29:56 PM PDT
by dragnet2
(Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)

I never implied China stated this, I said: Interesting article on China loosing patience with the North.

Holly, this statement above clearly implies or suggested the Communist Chinese said they were losing patience. When in reality, those comments and the link you provided were comments directly from a former U.S. state department hack, not from the Communist Chinese.

41
posted on 04/08/2013 1:36:26 PM PDT
by dragnet2
(Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)

One thing I do know, is this government knows attempting to draft hundreds of thousands of Americans to run off to protect Japan, South Korea and or Taiwan in some ground war in Asia, ain't going to happen.

Add Vietnam to that list. That's another place China's looking to invade.

Have you been monitoring what China has been doing to Vietnam and the tensions? China is LOVING what North Korea is doing. China is also watching how exactly the US responds and the last few days I'm sure China likes what it sees.

It would not surprise me. Unfortunately seeing hundreds of years of one country over the other attempting to dominate and control one another, seems to be establish the fact that man always attempts to dominate and control other men.

50
posted on 04/08/2013 8:24:49 PM PDT
by dragnet2
(Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)

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